Houston Dynamo break transfer record for Paraguayan DP

Forward Sebastian Ferreira joins Houston Dynamo FC from Paraguay. He becomes the 13th Designated Player in franchise history, plus occupies an international spot.

MLS created the Designated Player Rule so a team could sign up to three players while keeping them outside their salary cap.

Initial media releases didn’t disclose the costs of transferring Ferreira from Club Libertad Asuncion but the club confirmed this is the franchise’s most expensive signing.

His international roster spot won’t be the last used by the team before the season starts, as Houston just traded the San Jose Earthquakes for one of theirs. That gives the Dynamo seven available international roster spots.

Houston Dynamo FC started loading their 2022 roster by acquiring forward Sebastian Ferreira – the franchise’s most-expensive signing.

Of course, Houston has players they’re pleased with and who earned a 2022 roster spot. Among the top players is midfielder Memo Rodriguez, a homegrown player – the first to work his way through every level of the club’s developmental system.

What Ferreira brings to Houston is consistent goalscoring. With Libertad, he won two league titles and led the club to the 2021 Apertura championship. Before that, he maintained a strong scoring record in Club Atletico Morelia in Liga MX.

General manager Pat Onstad credited the ownership group headed by Ted Segal for providing resources to make this largest player acquisition yet for Houston. He said Ferreira fit their scouting profile as a high-potential attacker and difference-maker. He demonstrates tenacity and selflessness.

New head coach Paulo Nagamura will depend heavily on Ferreira’s teamwork plus the leadership of his veterans. The front office has hinted that they’ll apply some emphasis on youth. Onstad hinted at that while keying on Nagamura’s success developing younger players in the Sporting Kansas City organization.

At age 23, Ferreira will more than earn his pay for seasons to come. With Libertad, he frequently worked up front in a 4-4-2 double diamond formation. If Nagamura favors the 4-3-3 as expected, that won’t be a problem. That formation is the first cousin to the double diamond.

Scouting reports from the United Kingdom lead to that conclusion. Ferreira shows up on English football radar. Their latest scouting entry favors him as a center-forward.

If the Dynamo 2022 schedule were an app, Ferreira would be the Quick Start Sheet for the offense. But Houston Dynamo will need a killer defense to go with the killer defense they aim to build.

They’ve got those available international spots, plus some capable veterans on the roster. We’ll stay tuned.